Insurrection. Sedition. Domestic terrorism. These are some of the words used since yesterday’s shameful scene in Washington, D.C. when a mob incited by Trump overran the U.S. Capitol where Congress was in session. The House of Representatives and the Senate were engaged in the largely ceremonial final step in certifying our November vote. Joe Biden and Kamala Harris will take office on January 20, 2021, following a free and fair election. This, despite Trump’s lies that the election was “stolen” from him. And yesterday, like countless others, I was glued to my screen in disbelief. As commentators and news feeds threw out terminology to describe what was happening — I had no words.
Today, I still find myself incredulous, disgusted, appalled, disheartened. To see the months of White House and GOP supporters’ misinformation and disinformation come to this. Sure, I have adjectives for my mortification and shock having watched yesterday’s events play out on television. But I have no words for the craven politicians who have been complicit for years in the destructive impulses of the 45th president of the United States.
As for those who participated in yesterday’s violence and vandalism, I admit to finding it difficult to understand how they could be so led astray as to believe the insane conspiracies that this president has promoted.
For your information, this is Dictionary.com’s definition of insurrection:
an act or instance of rising in revolt, rebellion, or resistance against civil authority or an established government.
Other definitions are clearer in specifying the use of violence. And, an insurrection is not civil disobedience.
Sedition is one of those words I hadn’t really heard since I was a kid. You know, in school, learning about 18th-century history. That is, I hadn’t heard it until this current administration. Consider this Dictionary.com definition:
incitement of discontent or rebellion against a government; any action, especially in speech or writing, promoting such discontent or rebellion.
A synonym for sedition? Treason.
This Washington Post article calls yesterday’s assault domestic terrorism, noting:
Members of both political parties pointed to the destruction of government property, threats to law enforcement and two explosive devices found near the Capitol as acts of terrorism as far-right extremist groups rallied in the nation’s capital to contest the results of the presidential election.
If you’re looking for more detail on what constitutes domestic terrorism, from the same article:
… the FBI’s definition of domestic terrorism: “Violent, criminal acts committed by individuals and/or groups to further ideological goals stemming from domestic influences, such as those of a political, religious, social, racial, or environmental nature.”
I will leave the analysis of Trump’s ascendency these past five years to those whose expertise in social and political movements is just that, expertise. I have no such expertise, which doesn’t mean that I do not see or grasp the depth of division and the tidal waves of anger that arise from feeling disenfranchised, shut out, silenced. But the Proud Boys? QAnon? These extremists who exploit the vulnerability of others? The hatred that powers them? Why is this country such fertile ground for these homegrown movements? And hasn’t the writing been on the wall from the beginning when it comes to Trump?
As for yesterday, how is it that our lawmakers were left so unprotected? That the Capitol was so unsecured? And how is it that this largely white crowd was treated with such relative gentleness when we all saw the opposite response to the summer’s Black Lives Matter and George Floyd protests?
Those for whom I truly have no words except for expressions of disdain are the cynical, self-interested sycophants who have been complicit in 45’s egregious words and actions that led to this week’s so-called “protest.” SHAME on you. You know better.
I confess I’m also disgusted with social media companies who have only now banned what is and has been the president’s blatantly false and dangerous rhetoric.
Here is a word that I do have. Disgrace. Yesterday’s “siege” of the Capitol was the culmination of disgrace after disgrace, instigated and enabled by this administration.
As if 360,000+ Americans dead from coronavirus are not stain enough on this administration and this country. As if the open racism and acceptance of white nationalism aren’t stain enough. Surely, we’ve given our adversaries a wide berth, and our allies more reason to find us hypocritical and ridiculous.
I am embarrassed for this country. More importantly, I am worried for this country. And for now, I worry about our next 13 days.
I happened to be watching news on television when this began and was happening. I wondered if any of my neighbors would be watching. This evening, I thought of you and wondered if you might write a post of your thoughts. I’m glad that you did.
Like you, TD, I happened to be watching TV when this began as well. And then I stayed glued until late into the night. Thankfully, I was also texting with a friend, which allowed me to share some of my dismay as everything was going down. Ditto for her.
I have tried for the better part of the year not to comment very much on the political; I have felt like there is little point, and the last thing I want is to add even an infinitesimally small fragment to the division in this country. And I have friends who voted for 45. Political, or rather policy differences are the norm in this country and should not divide people. But… But this is and has been something more, much as the handling or rather non-handling of COVID-19 is something more.
Obviously, there are times when I can’t stop myself. And yesterday, with more than 4,000 people dying of COVID-19 — just yesterday alone — and now five people dead as a result of the assault on the Capitol, I struggle not to express the anger and heartache that are inevitable when I see how much damage has been caused by the current administration.
Thank you for stopping by.
There are people I can talk or text with in my life now. Although I keep myself intentionally in-person isolated due to the high spread of COVID. People don’t distance or wear mask wear I live (except me or a worker mandated). I’m the outsider in my new neighborhood.
I’m thankful that you have a free place to express your feelings.
I, too, have no words… And we thought 2021 would be different. xoxox, Brenda
I hear you, Brenda. We didn’t even make it a week. Let’s hope for better soon.
The whole thing was telegraphed for weeks. I got up in the night (time difference) and checked the news and was sickened but not surprised to see the mob assault on the Capitol. The NYT has a good essay about the gamers and the breakers who have enabled the narcissistic psychopath for four years. If nothing happens fast, this, too, will become as normal as the outrage in Charlottesville–remember when that was the last straw? And the Ukraine call? Not so bad? How do armed rioters not warrant police action when cops resort to immediate death penalty to control dangerous Black people riding bikes, coming home with a sandwich or other heinous acts?
I bet he’s going to pardon all of them before leaving, and perhaps also himself. Let’s just hope he doesn’t take a military action, or, possibly worse, that some other country like Russia does something unspeakable, knowing it will have impunity.
Yes, it was all telegraphed. And the more video clips that come out, the more evident just how violent it was. Likewise, the more details that come out, the clearer the groups that were plainly instigated and directed to do what they did. And the days that remain become even more anxiety provoking.
I have been listening to the arguments pro and con relative to impeachment, the only “last resort“ to putting a stake in the ground on this despicable act of instigating a violent insurrection and standing by while it was going on. Were the 25th amendment or resignation actually achievable, then impeachment, however it may or may not be workable, would not be necessary. I simply don’t think it is the right thing to allow this last heinous act to stand without some clear repercussion, whether or not it can actually remove 45 from office.
One of the greatest concerns: without right wing media or the enablers clearly debunking the great lie, how does the division ever get addressed?
I am astounded at the arrogant and despicable domestic terrorism. I am also deeply saddened.
That said, regardless of what the politicians do it is now time to leave this matter to the professionals at the Department of Justice and law enforcement agencies. This process will take time to investigate, arrest, assess and try or have guilty pleas.
The vast majority of people that work for the DOJ and FBI are true patriots who take their oaths to uphold the constitution both seriously and personally.
There will be consequences, but sadly the cloud will be hanging over these affairs for some time.
Division may be addressed over time but so far there has been very little movement on this. To address the issues you have to understand how the US came to this point and what to do moving forward. That is much more complex and time consuming that I can address at the moment.